Stargazing can be an enchanting experience, especially when you know the constellations. These patterns of stars have captivated people for centuries and often carry mythological and cultural significance.
How do you keep moisture out of a tent?
Constellations are like connect-the-dots, in that they use groups of stars to form shapes or symbols. Astronomers divide the night sky into 88 modern constellations.
The Big Dipper
If you're looking for an easy-to-spot pattern of stars that stands out in the sky, look no further than The Big Dipper. This constellation, also known as the Plough or the Great Bear, is a familiar and comforting group of friends in the night sky, with its own fascinating cultural stories.
Unlike most constellations, which are official patterns of stars that are gravitationally linked, The Big Dipper is an asterism, or a recognizable but unofficial star formation. However, this doesn't diminish its importance in the sky.
If you're in the Northern Hemisphere, you can easily find The Big Dipper on a June evening. To do so, you'll need to be facing northward, and the stars in The Big Dipper are called "The Pointers," because they point to the North Star, also known as Polaris. The stars in the bowl of The Big Dipper are Dubhe, Merak, and Alioth, while the star at the tip of the handle is Alkaid.
Orion
The best way to locate constellations is with a star map or smartphone app. Then, find a dark sky site away from light pollution, such as a national park or rural area. If you can, visit an observatory and take advantage of their public viewing sessions.
Like a connect-the-dots game, you can start by finding one constellation that is easy to identify. From there, you can begin to trace a line toward another. The International Astronomical Union officially recognizes 88 constellations, including Orion the Hunter and the Big Dipper.
Constellations are groups of stars that resemble objects, people or animals and have been named long ago. Their position in the sky depends on your location on Earth and the time of year. They can guide you to amazing celestial sights such as young stars, nebulae, and new worlds. Some of these sights can only be seen on certain nights and are usually dependent on the weather.
Cassiopeia
Star constellations are like the chapters of a celestial storybook, with each one telling its own unique tale. Constellations are easily recognizable thanks to their distinctive patterns, and recognizing them can help beginners to navigate the night sky and become more comfortable with it.
Cassiopeia is the 25th largest constellation in outdoor gifts for men the sky, stretching across over 598 square degrees of it. It is characterized by its W or M shape and is most easily spotted in November at 21:00 (9 p.m).
It is named after a vain queen in Greek mythology, who was doomed to spend her eternally long reign clinging to her throne and battling with her husband Cepheus (also a constellation) in order not to fall off. The constellation is also home to many interesting deep-sky objects, including the Heart and Soul emission nebulae that lie to the right of Epsilon Cassiopeiae, which marks the queen's foot. The Summer Triangle, made up of Deneb, Vega and Altair, is also located within Cassiopeia.
Taurus
Taurus, the Bull, is one of the brightest constellations in the winter sky. Its bright star Aldebaran, which is also called the Eye of the Bull, marks its head.
The Bull has ties to deities and heroes across cultures. In Greek mythology, Zeus was so smitten with the Phoenician princess Europa that he changed himself into a white Bull and wooed her. Europa hopped onto the Bull and rode it back to Crete.
If you're new to observing the night sky, start with the Big Dipper, part of Ursa Major. Two bright stars at the end of its bowl, Dubhe and Merak, point upwards toward Polaris, the North Star. From there, an imaginary line can be extended to find Cassiopeia, a W-shaped constellation that represents the mythological queen.
Which information is a must have when camping?
